The Beachfront Safety Sector initiative announced on Wednesday comes right in time as the Metro gears towards officially opening the Summer season.
Chair of the initiative, Shuan Van Eck says after a highly influential inbound tourism operator described Gqeberha as "very unsafe", a group of committed stakeholders including neighbourhood watches and ward two Councillor, Ronaldo Gouws drove the collaboration to "take back" the beachfront.
The initiative was officially handed over to Metro Security Directorate by representatives of the private partners of the forum.
The joint operation will be manned from the PE Yacht Club at Hobie Beach where staff will monitor CCTV cameras placed in different parts of the beachfront.
There will also be constant radio contact with teams that will be patrolling the walkways between Kings Beach and the Lollipop Beacon even after the festive season.
Van Eck, says the initiative received funding worth R500 000 that will be valid for a year.
"There are obviously monthly costs like camera maintenance which we need to be covered but we have raised most of that for the next year. We will keep putting money into it and introducing more sponsors," Eck added.
Councillor Gouws says this is a major step forward for the area and he has been impressed with the collaboration between the private and public sectors.
"This is a major step forward for this area and I have been really impressed that the collaboration between private and public sectors has developed a sense of what can be achieved by people who are passionate about the future and quality of life in our Metro," he said.
Metro Executive Mayor Retief Odendaal also praised the successful collaboration between the two stakeholders.
"I know tourism establishments and residents of the Metro have long called for enhanced safety along our tourist beachfront. This process and collaboration epitomise the vision of our multi-party government to work together to deliver to all", he said.
The long-term plan is to spread this safety initiative to other parts of the Metro including central and township areas so that the economy can also be revitalised.
Meanwhile, head of Humewood police station Brigadier Leonie Bentley says she believes that this multi-disciplinary approach will assist SAPS in curbing crime in the area.
"We are in close partnership with all stakeholders and we believe the multi-disciplinary approach is going to assist as Saps to widen the scope to make sure that every resident, tourist and visitor is safe," Brigadier Bentley added.
